In April and May 1945 Lancaster bomb bays of many Bomber Command aircraft were filled with provisions instead of bombs, and shown here is a typical load for dropping into Holland. Parts of that country were still cut off and occupied by German forces until late in the war and food was running very short. An agreement was made with the enemy to drop supplies in designated areas and between 29 April and 8 May 1945 both RAF and USAAF (United States Army Air Forces) bombers dropped thousands of tons of foodstuffs to the starving Dutch. The operation was called ‘Manna', meaning ‘food from heaven'. Three hundred squadrons of Bomber Command reputedly took part in 'Manna' and many RAAF aircrew would have been involved, including men from No. 460 Squadron RAAF. The squadron's first 'Manna' drop was on 29 April 1945, when twenty-one Lancasters each carried a load of 5739 lbs (2603 kilograms) to the Dutch of the Hague: 'Loads were dropped in an excellent concentration ... There was a great reception by the population of the Hague. Many people lining the streets and waving flags. All aircraft returned safely'. [No. 460 Squadron RAAF, Operations Record Book, 29 April 1945; AWM SUK14311]
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